Combined distributing and realigning arrangement for cigarette sticks and the like



B. SCHUBERT ETAL 3,164,242 COMBINED DISTRIBUTING AND REALIGNING ARRANGEMENT FOR CIGARETTE STICKS AND THE LIKE Jan. 5, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 27, 1961 Fig.7

Jan. 5, 165 B. SCHUBERT ETAL COMBINED DISTRIBUTING AND REALIG 3,164,242 NING ARRANGEMENT FOR CIGARETTE STICKS AND THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 27, 1961 Fig.2

Jan. 5, 1965 con/113mm 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 27, 1961 /In/ufar 3min! flak/z W L Ly RUDjZ AMT Jan. 5, 1965 B. SCHUBERT ETAL 3,

COMBINED DISTRIBUTING AND REALIGNING ARRANGEMENT FOR CIGARETTE STICKS AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 27, 1961 5Sheets-Sheet 4 WILL)/ uwzr A/AT Jan. 5, 1965 B. SCHUBERT ETAL 3,164,242

COMBINED DISTRIBUTING AND REALIGNING ARRANGEMENT FOR CIGARETTE STICKS AND THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 27. 1961 United States Patent 3,164,242 COMEINED DISTREEUTING AND REALIGNHNG ARRANGEMENT FOR CEGARETTE SHQKS AND Tim LHGI Bernhard dchuhert and Wiily Rudszinat, Hamburg- Lohhrugge, Germany, assignors to Hauni-Werke Korher & Co. Kiln, Hamhnrg-Bergedorf, Germany Filed Dec. 27, 1961, er. No. 162,432 Claims priority, applicationGerinany, Dec. 27, 1960, H 41,325 20 Claims. (Cl. 19831) The present invention relates to the manufacture of tobacco-containing products in general, and more particularly to a combined distributing and realigning arrangement for cigarette sticks and the like.

An important object of the invention is to provide a combined distributing and realigning arrangement for cigarette sticks, cigars, cigarillos, filters and similar substantially rod like articles which are utilized in the mass manufacture of tobacco-containing products, the'arrangement being such that it can rearrange continuously conveyed axially aligned rod like articles into axially aligned pairs of articles.

Another object of the invention is to provide an arrangement of the just outlined characteristics which is constructed and assembled in such a way that it is capable of accurately aligning cigarette sticks into pairs of cigarette sticks and which is also capable of delivering such pairwise disposed cigarette sticks in spaced relationship so that say a filter may be inserted between each pair of consecutively delivered cigarette sticks in a continuous operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide an arrangement of the above described type which is particularly suited for delivering axially aligned pairs of cigarette sticks to the shufiling drum of a filter tip cigarette making machine.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an arrangement for distributing and for thereupon realigning a continuous row of axially aligned cigarette sticks and like substantially rod shaped articles which is especially suited for receiving and rearranging cigarette sticks delivered by an endless band conveyor from a source of cigarette sticks which are to be provided with one or more filter elements to form filter tip cigarettes.

Still another object of the invention is to providean arrangement of the above outlined characteristics which may be rapidly and conveniently adjusted for the manufacture of regular or king size cigarettes and other tobacco-containing or tobacco-filtering articles, which may be conveniently incorporated in many known types of cigarette making machines, which requires little attention when in actual use, and whose output per unit of time is higher than the output of known arrangements of which I am aware at this time.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel assembly of realigning drums or chains which may be utilized in the arrangement of the above outlined characteristics.

A concomitant object of the invention is to provide a very simple drive for the realigning drums or chain of my improved arrangement.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a method of distributing and realigning cigarette sticks and the like.

With the above objects in view, the invention resides in the provision of a combined distributing and realigning arrangement for cigarette sticks and the like which coinprises means for conveying axially aligned cigarette sticks in a predetermined direction, means preferably assuming the form of a rotary distributor drum with axially parallel ice peripheral grooves or other holding means for receiving in its holding means consecutive cigarette sticks so that each holding means receives a stick andthe sticks received in alternate holding means are arranged in two axially spaced groups, a pair of movable realigning means having holding means in the form of external grooves or the like for respectively receiving the sticks of the first and second groups, and means for supporting and driving the realigning means in such a way that, at a point spaced from and located at the downstream side of the distributor drum, each stick-containing holding means of one of the realigning means is axially aligned with a stick-containing holding means of the other realigning means. At this last mentioned point, the two realigning meanstransfer the aligned pairs of sticks into a receiving means, e.g. a rotary shufiiing drum, whose holding means in the form of peripheral grooves or the like receive the pairwise arranged cigarette sticks and one or more filters therebetween to thereupon convey the sticks and the filters to a wrapping, cutting and evacuating station of the apparatus.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following detailed description of certain specific embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. -1 is a side elevational view of an apparatus which means for the arrangement of FIGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 5 is a schematic end view of the arrangement as seen in the direction of the arrow B in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5a is an enlarged view of a detail of FIG. 5;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective of a first stop means provided on the distributing drum of the'improvezl arrangement;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a second stop means on the distributing drum; and

FIG. 8 is a somewhat schematic side elevational view of a modified distributing and realigning arrangement.

Referring now in greater detail to the illustrated embodiments, and first to FIG. 1, there is shown an apparatus which, in this description is assumed to be utilized for assembling aligned pairs of elongated tobacco-containing sticks Z (hereinafter called cigarette sticks) with twinlength filters F, and for thereupon halving the so-obtained composite twin-length filter cigarettes into pairs of ulti the form of a magazine or hopper 1 and which is provided with a chute la adapted to permit gravitational descent of consecutive multi-length filter 'rods S into holding means in the form of axially parallel peripheral grooves provided on a cutting or subdividing drum 2. This drum cooperates with two circumferentially and axially staggered rotary cutters 3, 4 which subdivide each of the consecutive multi-length filter rods ,8 into three twinlength filters F of equal lengths. The drum 2 also cooperates with suitable arcuate shield, means 46 which retain the filter rods S and the subdivided twin-length filters F in the respective holding means or grooves while the filter rods and thereupon the filters advance toward a.

staggering drum which comprises three disks 5a, 5b, 5c of different diameters. The disks 5a-5c are provided with holding means in the form of. axially parallel peripheral grooves and respectively cooperate with arcuate shields d7, 4%, 49 to retain the twin-length filters F in their respective holding means while advancing the filters toward the holding means in the form of axially parallel peripheral grooves provided in an aligning drum 6.

The disks 542-50 are eccentrically mounted for rota tion about a common axis and the angular distance between the holding means of each of these disks equals one-third of the angular distance t between the grooves or holding means subdividing drum 2-. e The arrangement is such that the largest disk 5a receives one circumferentially aligned group of filters F advancing at one axial end of the grooves in the drum 2, that the smaller disl; 5b receives the circumfentially aligned group of filters F advancing in the median portions of the grooves in the drum 2, and that the smallest disk 50 receives the third 7 group of circumferentially aligned filters P which advances at the other axial end of the grooves in the drum 2. The purpose of the staggering drum 5 is to transfer three rows of filters F in circumferentially staggering relationship to axially parallel grooves of the aligning drum 6 which latter cooperates with shields 5d as well as with a pair of converging arcuate guideways (not shown) which compel the filters consecutively'delivered by the disks 5a, 5b, 5c to form a single file or row of aligned filters, i.e. at the time they leave the drum 6 the ends of the filters are disposed between a pair of parallel planes which are perpendicular to the axis of the drum 6. The above described elements of my apparatus are disclosed in the copending application Serial No. 60,929 of Willy Rudszinat, and by themselves form no part of the present invention. The assembly of elements 1, 2, 3, t, 5, 6 serves as a means for subdividing multi-length filter rods 8 into twin-length filters F and for thereupon arranging the filters F in a single file or row which is subsequently delivered into axially parallel peripheral grooves or holding means of a transfer drum '7 cooperating with one or more shields 51 to deliver the filters into axially parallel peripheral grooves or holding means of an accelerating drum 3, the latter cooperating with shield means 52 and delivering the filters into axially parallel peripheral grooves or holding means of a stick and filter receiving or shufiiingdrom 9. The drums 7, 8 partially overlap and cooperate witheach other in a manner as disclosed in the copending application Serial No. 60,957 of Willy Rudszinat, now Patent No. 3,194,752.

it will be notedthat the pitch circles of the disksSa-Sc are tangential to the pitch circle of the cutting drum 2 at the transfer station I at which the drum 2 delivers axially aligned filters F obtained by subdivision of consecutive filter rods S into'the grooves of the disks 5a-5c, and that the pitch circles of these disks are also tangential to the pitch circle of the aligning or receiving drum 6 at a second transfer station 11 at which the circumferentially staggered filters F are depositedinto consecutive grooves of the drum 6 to be thereupon shifted toward the median portions of grooves in the drum 6 while advancing toward the transfer drum 7. The angular distance (If/3) between the adjacent grooves of the drum 6 or 7 is the same as the angular distance between the grooves of the disk 5a,

551 or 50, and the angular, distance (r) between the grooves of the accelerating drum d is the same as the distance between the grooves of the cutting drum 2. The drum 8 is driven at thrice the speed of the transfer drum 7, and it rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow to transfer the filters F into consecutive peripheral grooves or holding means of the shuffling drum 9. The drum 8 is preferably disposed at a level above the drum 9, and these drums are driven at the same peripheral speed.

The novel distributing and realigning arrangement is shown in greater detail in FIGS. 2 and 3. it comprises asource of cigarette sticks Z including an endless band like supply conveyor it which delivers cigarette sticks at a predetermined speed and in spaced relation into consecutive axially parallel peripheral grooves or holding means 23 of a rotary distributing drum 11 which cooperates with two pairs of arcuate shields 5d and alternately delivers consecutively received sticks Z into axially parallel peripheral grooves or holding means of two r0- tary realigning means here shown in the form of two hollow drums l2, 13. The drums 12, 13 are disposed at the upstream side of the point where the accelerating drum 8 delivers filters Fro the grooves of the shuffiing drum 9. The discharge end of the preferably continuously moving conveyor it) delivers consecutive sticks Z into a stationary trough 19a which directs the sticks into converging inlet channels 41 of the consecutive grooves 23. The length of the channels ll exceeds the length ZL of the sticks Z (see FEG. 5a), and the distributing drum 11 comprises alternatinc stop means 2 5, 25 which alternately extend into the adjacent grooves 25 at axially spaced points thereof so as to arrest consecutively delivered sticks Z in diilerent axial positions, i.e. to axially stagger the single row of cigarette sticks delivered by the conveyor 10 into two groups of cigarette sticks. As shown in FIG. 6, each stop means 25 assumes the form of a substantially semicylinorical protuberance forming part of or secured to a ring 25a which latter is axially adjustably fixed to the drum ti and is located at that axial end of this drum which is distant from the conveyor 10. In the embodimerit of FIG. 6, the protubcrances 25 are secured to the inner side of the ring 25s: by screws 25b and their total number equals one-half the number of grooves 23, i.e. the protuberances 25 extend into alternate grooves 23. Each of these protuberances is provided with a substantially semispherical arresting head 35 whose diameter is preterably at least slightly smaller than the diameter of a cigarette sticlr Z and which comes into actual abutment with the forward end of a stick delivered by the conveyor it and trough lla to the respective groove 23. The ring 25a is provided with two, three or more extensions 36 (only one shown) which project into selected grooves 23 (i.e. into such grooves which do not receive a protuberance 25) and which are provided with axially parallel elongated closed slots 37 for the heads of retaining screws 33, the latter extending into suitable tapped bores of the drum ii for holding the ring 25a and the protuberances 2-5 in a given axial position. The purpose of the slotted extensions 36 and of the screws 38 is to permit rapid axial adjustments of the ring 250: with respect to the drum H, for example, at a time when the operation of the apparatus is to be changed from manufacture of regular filter tip cigarettes to icing size filter tip cigarettes or vice versa.

The other set of stop means 24 (PEG. 7) is fixed to a median portion of the drum 1 so as to arrest alternate sticks Z at a predetermined distance from the circumferentially staggered sticks abutting against the heads 35 of the protuberances 25. Each stop means 2% preferably assume-s a semicylindrical form and is provided with a substantially hemispherical arresting head 35a at its side which is turned toward the conveyor l6. Screws er serve as a means for preferably removably fastening the stop means 24 to the drum 11. The stop means 24 and 235 may he of equal dimensions so that they may be alternately used at the axial ends or in median portions of the grooves 23. The heads 35, 35a may be provided with threaded shanks and may be rcmovably fixed to the respective stop means. It Will be readily understood that each of the stop means 24 may be provided with an elongated slot for the head of the respective screw til so as to facilitate axial adjustmerits of the stop means 24 in the respective grooves 2;" However, it is normally suificient if only one group of the stop means 24, 2 is axially movably mounted on the drum 1!.

The supply conveyor it? receives cigarette sticks from a stick-forming machine of any known design which forms 2) no part of the present invention. For example, the sticks Z may be deposited on the upper run of the conveyor 11 by a hopper and chute similar to the elements 1, 162 shown in FIG. 1.

The conveyor 10 preferably delivers cigarette sticks to that groove 23 which is momentarily located at or close to the uppermost point of the drum 11 (see FIGS. 1-4). The angular distance (t/2) between the adjacent grooves 23 equals one-half the angular distance I between the grooves of the shuffling drum 9. The axial length of the grooves 23 between the discharge ends of the inlet channels 41 and the heads 35 of the stop means 25 at least equals but normally at least slightly exceeds'the combined length of two sticks Z and of one filter F.

The realigning drums 12, 13 rotate about parallel axes. The angular distance t between the peripheral grooves of the rear drum 13 is thesame as that between the grooves of the drum 9, and the angular distance (t/Z) between the grooves of the front drum 12 is the same as that between the grooves of the distributing drum 11. The diameter of the drum 13 is greater than the diameter of the drum 12,

and the axial length of the grooves in each of these drums exceeds the length of a cigarette stick Z. As clearly illustrated in FIG. 2, the drums 12, 13 form with the drum 11 a first transfer station III at which the sticks are transferred to their respective peripheral grooves, and these drums 12, 13 form with the shuffling drum 1 a second transfer station IV at which they deliver the sticks into the peripheral grooves of the drum 9 in such a way that each groove of this last mentioned drum receives a pair of axially aligned but spaced cigarette sticks, the distance between each pair of aligned sticks being at least equal but normally at least slightly exceeding the length of a filter F. In other words, the pitch circles of the drums 12, 13 are tangential to the pitch circles of the drums 1t 9 at the respective transfer stations Ill, IV in the same manner in which the disks 5a-Sc are disposed with respect to the drums 2, 6 at the previously mentioned transfer stations I, II, respectively.

The stations III, IV are preferably rather closely adjacent to each other, e.g. their angular distance need not substantially exceed 90 degrees (see FIG. 2) so that a groove of the larger disk 13 is substantially aligned with a groove of the smaller disk 12 at each of these stations. However, the grooves of the disk 13 become progressively more staggered with respect to the grooves of the disk 12 as they travel in clockwise direction (as viewed in FIG. 2) from the station III toward the station 1V beneath the respective shields 5- 53. At the station IV, a groove of the disk 12 which was aligned with a groove of thedisk 13 at the station 111 is now angularly spaced from the previously aligned groove through a distance t/ 2 so that it becomes aligned with the next groove of the drum 13 which means that the drums 12, 13 move into axial align- Inent consecutive pairs of cigarette sticks alternately abutting against the stop means 2 25 in the grooves 23 of the drum 11. V

For example, the larger drum 13 may have 19 peripheral grooves Whose angular distance I is twice the angular distance t/2 between the 37 peripheral grooves of the smaller drum 12. Thus, the circumferential length of the drum 13 equals the circumferential length of the drum 12 freely rotatable about the disk 31.

plus t/2. This difference of t/ 2 corresponds to the extent which encloses right angles with the direction of movement of the conveyor 10.

FIG. 3 shows that the shufiiing drum 9 cooperates with a pair of mutually'inclined arcuate guide rails 67 (only one shown) whose purpose is to move aligned cigarette sticks located in the grooves of the drum 9 toward each other so that the inner ends of aligned sticks move into abutment with the opposite ends of the respective filter P which is deposited into the grooves of the drum 9 at the downstream side of the station IV. It will be noted that the guide rails 67 are also located at the downstream side of the transfer station IV, as viewed in the direction in which the cigarette sticks are advanced by the drums 12, 13 and thereupon by the shufiling drum 9. All above described movable and/ or stationary elements of the apparatus are mounted ona substantially plate-like frame member 33.

The means for driving the realigning drums 12, 13 is shown in FIG. 4. The frame member 33 fixedly supports a horizontal stub shaft 23 which serves as a carrier for a pair of eccentric supporting disks: 31, 32. These disks are non-rotatably fixed to the free end of the stub shaft 29 by means of a bolt 62, their purpose being to rotatably support the drums 12, 13 in such a way that the disk 31 is concentric with the drum 12 and that the other disk 32 is concentric with the drum 13 but that the drums 12, 13 are concentric with respect to each other. As shown, the disks 31, 32 are in face-toface abutment with each other. The disk 31 supports three pairs of antifriction bearings 28 which are secured thereto by bolts 30 and which extend from its exposed side, i.e. from that side which is turned away from the disk 32. The pairwise arranged bearings 28 are preferably uniformly spaced from each other (i.e. through degrees, as shown in FIG. 2) and their outer races are received in annular depressions 63 provided in the internal cylindrical surface of the annular drum 12 in a manner as shown'in FIG. 4.- Thus, the drum 12 is T heother drum 13 also assumes the form of an annulus and the axially spaced annular depressions 63a of its internal cylindrical surface receive the outer races of pairwise arranged antifriction bearings 23a which are secured to the disk 32 by means of bolts 30a and are located at the exposed lefthand side of the disk 32. The number of and the angular spacing between the antifriction .bearings 28a may be the same as that of the bearings 28.

i A drive shaft 26 is rotatably mounted on a supporting bolt 71 by means of antifriction bearing means 68 so that its axis is parallel with the axes of the drums 12, 13.

The bolt '71 is anchored in the frame member 33. The shaft 26 is provided with a pair of coaxial pinions 65, 66 which respectively mesh with internal threads 27, 27a of the drums 12, 13 so that the drums are compelled to rotate at the same speed about the respective bearings 28, 28a when the shaft 26 is driven by its coaxial gear 44 which meshes with a driver gear 45. The latter may be driven by a suitable electric motor or the like, not shown. The shaft 26 extends through bores 64, 64a provided in the disks 31, 32, and its portion adjacent to the frame member 33 is surrounded by the gear box 70 which also accommodates a transmission which is mounted between the motor and the driver gear 45.

Theshuifling drum 9 cooperates with shields 53 and advances pairwise arranged cigarette sticks Z, Z with filters F therebetween into axially parallel peripheral grooves of an assembling drum 18 by cooperating with additional arcuate shields 57 which extend to the point where the grooves of the drum 9 receive filters F from the acceler ating drum 8. The assembling drum 18 cooperates with shields 58 and with a wrapper-applying suction drum 16 which latter in turn cooperates with radially extending axially parallel knives 17a of a revolving knife roll 17 so as to cut a strip of paper-like wrapping material 14 into shorter lengths such'as are necessary to form'short' tubes about consecutive filters F when the filters are transferred into the grooves of a wrapping drum 19 which is located at the downstream side of the assembling drum 13. The wrapping material 14 is convoluted on a'source in the form of a bobbin or reel 14a and, while advancing from the reel 14a to the drum 16, its underside is coated --ing manner:

with a paste-like adhesive substance by means of a paste applying roll 1515 which receives paste from a paste roll 15a dipping into a source in the form of a tank 15. On the drum 1%, the consecutively delivered wrappers are caused to adhere to the filters F and to the adjacent portions of the respective pairwise arranged aligned sticks Z, and the formation of tubes is completed on the wrapping drum 19 which cooperates with shields 59 and delivers composite cigarette groups G consisting of aligned pairs of sticks and of a filter F therebetween into the axially parallel peripheral grooves of a second cutting or halving drum 20. This last mentioned drum cooperates with shields 6t and with a rotary cutter 21 which'latter halvesthe filters F into pairs of filter elements and thereby divides each composite cigarette G into a pair of ultimate products. The ultimate products are deposited on the upper run of-an evacuating conveyor 22 which advances the filter tip cigarettes to a packaging or storing station, not shown. The arrangement of and the manner in which the elements 14-22 cooperate with each other forms no 'pa'rt'of this invention, and these elements were described and shown with the sole purpose of facilitating the understanding of the function and for appreciating the advantages of the novel distributing and realigning arrangement. This arrangement operates in the follow- As shown in FIGS. 5 and .Sa, aligned but spaced cigarette sticks Z are delivered by the conveyor ill and by the trough lilo into the channels ll of the consecutive grooves 23 of the distributingdrurn ii, and the cigarette sticks alternately advance into abutment with the arresting heads 35, 35a (see FIGS. 6 and- 7) of the stop means 25, 24 so that they are axially staggered and form two circumferential groups of parallel sticks which thereupon advance from the transfer station Ill to the transfer station IV to be deposited in the form of axially aligned pairs into the grooves of the shuffling drum 9. The speed at which the conveyor lid delivers consecutive cigarettes I Z to the trough the is synchronized with the peripheral speed of the distributing drum 11 in such a way that the periphery of the drum ll covers an angular distance t/2 before a next stick Z reaches the channel 41 of the nextgroove 23. In other words, the drum 11 covers an angular distance t /2 while the cigarettes on the uppcr on their way toward the arresting heads 35 orSSa. I The means for braking cigarette sticks in the grooves of revolving drums may assume theform of suction slots or resilient elements which are not shown in the drawings because their construction is well knowntand, therefore,

such bra'kingmeansform no part of this invention.

Each groove 23 receives a stick Z and, as explained hereinabove,, these sticks form two axially spaced circumferentially arranged groups of axially parallel: sticks which advance toward the realigning drums, 12, 13, i.e.

toward the station 111. i

As shown in FIG. 5, each groove of the drum 13 re ceives a stick 2, whereas the drum it delivers sticks I onlyinto'each second groove of the smaller-diameter drum 12'. Since "the drums l2, 13 are formed with odd numbers of'grooves and since the drums 9 and 11 are formed with even numbers of grooves, the grooves 23 and the grooves of the drum 9 are always aligned with V adifl'erent groove of the drum 12. This is the reason 7 of forming the drum 12 with grooves whose mutual distance'equals t/Z despite the fact that only alternate grooves of tl'u's' drum receive cigarette sticks from alternate grooves 23 of the drum 311.7 FIG. 5' shows that the circumferential length of the drum 13 between the stations III; IV exceeds the circumferential length of the drum 12 between these stations, namely by a dis tance 2/2. Consequently the cigarettes delivered by the drums l2, 13 at the station EV are in axial alignment with each other so as to make sure that a pair of such sticks is deposited in each groove of the shuilling drum 9.

Simultaneously with the delivery of cigarette sticks Z by the conveyor it), the chute in of the hopper 1 continuously delivers filter rods S to the subdividing drum 2 which cooperates with the rotary cutters 3, to sub divide the rods into filters F. The filters are staggered by the disks 5a5c oi the staggering drum 5 and are thereupon aligned in a single row on the periphery of the drum 6 which delivers consecutive filters into the grooves of the transfer drum 7 and the latter cooperates with the accelerating drum 3 in the above described manher. The drum $5 delivers filter rods into each groove of the shuttling drum 9 between pairs of cigarette sticks compressed groups G consisting of pairwise arranged sticks Z and of a filter F therebetween may be formed cigarette sticks Z and of a filter P therebetween may be formed by a system of the type disclosed in US. Patent No. 2,821,20l to Brunswig.

The remainder of the operation was described here inabove, i.e. the wrappers delivered by the suction drum in are applied to the filters F and to the adjacent portions of the respective sticks Z while the groups G advance about the axis of the drum E8, the Wrappers are formed into tubes on the drum 1?, and the drum 20 cooperates with the cutter 21 to halve the composite cigarettes into pairs of filter tip cigarettes which are evacuated from the apparatus along the upper run of the conveyor 22. A wrapping drum which may be utilized in the apparatus of this invention is disclosed in my US. Patent 2,714,384.

PEG. 8 illustrates a modified distributing and realigning arrangement which may be utilized in the apparatus of PEG. 1 as a substitute for the drums 11-33. This modified arrangement comprises two flexible realigning means in the form of endless chains or hands H2, 113 which operate between a distributing drum ill and a shufiling drum E9. The chains fill, 123 are tangential to the pitch circle of the drum Hi9 at a point where their lower runs begin, i.e. the drum M119 is disposed at a level below the respective left-hand sprockets 127, l27a of these chains. The diameter of the sprocket 127a for the chain 113 exceeds the diameter of the sprocket 127. The sprockets i23 127a assume the form of internal ring gears and their internal threads mesh with two pinions on the drive shaft (only the pinion for the sprocket 327 is shown in FIG. 8). The construction and mounting of the supporting disks Lil, 232, of the antifriction hearings 128 and of the bolts 13% for the'bearings 123 is analogous to that described in connection with the elements 31, 32, 28, 23a, 39 and 3th: of FlG. 4.

The right-hand sprockets 18d for the chains 12, 113 need not be driven and are free to rotate about a supporting shaft 133;. These sprockets are disposed beneath the distributing drum ll which cooperates with shield means 356 and whose construction is identical with that of the drum ll. At the transfer station llla, the drum ill delivers circumferentially staggered cigarette sticks to the external grooves of the chains H2, 113, and these chains thereupon advance the sticks along their upper runs toward the sprockets 12.7, 127a where they cooperate with arcuate shields 15 i, E55 while advancing about the sprockets and toward the transfer station IVa at which they deliver axially aligned pairs of cigarette sticks to the grooves of the shufiling drum Hi9.

As in the arrangement of FIGS. 2 and 3, the circumferential length of the chain 113 between the stations Illa, IVa equals the circumferential length of the chain 112 plus t/ 2 so that the consecutive cigarette sticks which are spaced through distances t/2 while advancing with the drum 111 are realigned at the time they reach the transfer station PM and may be assembled with filters F to form composite cigarettes G. The distance (t/Z) between the grooves of the chain 112 equals one-half the distance between the grooves of the chain 113.

It should be understood that the expression cigarette sticks and the like as utilized in the appended claims is intended to embrace sticks of cigarette tobacco, cigarillos, cigars and filter for tobacco containing products.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic and specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A combined distributing and realigning arrangement for cigarette sticks and the like, comprising movable distributor means having a plurality of equally spaced parallel grooves; means for consecutively conveying cigarette sticks into said grooves; stop means provided on said distributor means for arresting the sticks conveyed into alternate grooves in two axially spaced groups; a pair of movable realigning means each having a plurality of equally spaced parallel grooves, the spacing between the grooves of one of said realigning means and between the grooves of said distributor means equal to one-half the spacing between the grooves of the other realigning means, both said realigning means disposed at the downstream side of said conveying means and forming with said distributor means a first transfer station at which the sticks of one group are transferred into consecutive grooves of said other realigning means and the sticks of the other group are transferred into alternate grooves of said one realigning means; and movable stick receiving means having a plurality of parallel grooves whose spacing equals the spacing between the grooves of said other realigning means, said stick receiving means located at the downstream side ofsaid distributor means and forming with said realigning means a second transfer station at which the grooves of said stick receiving means receive sticks from each of said realigning means.

2. An arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein said distributor means, said stick receiving means and said realigning means are peripherally grooved drums having parallel axes, the circumferential length of said other realigning means between said stations exceeding the circumferential length of said one realigning means by a distance equal to the spacing between the grooves of said one realigning means, and the pitch circles of both said realigning means at said first and second transfer stations respectively tangential to the pitch circles of said distributor means and said stick receiving means.

3. An arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said realigning means comprises a driven externally grooved endless flexible element and wherein said distributor means and said stick receiving means are peripherally grooved drums having axes of rotation parallel with the axes about which said flexible elements are driven, the circumferential length of the flexible element of said other realigning means between said stations exceeding the circumferential length of the flexible element of said one realigning means by a distance equal to the spacing between the grooves of said one reali ning means, said flexible elements being driven in arcuate paths respectively tangential to the pitch circles of said distributor means and said receiving means at said first and second transfer stations.

4. A combined distributing and realigning arrangement for cigarette sticks and the like, comprising a rotary distributor drum having a plurality of equally spaced axially parallel peripheral grooves; means for consecutively conveying cigarette sticks into said grooves; stop means provided on said drum for arresting the sticks conveyed into alternate grooves in two axially spaced circumferentially arranged groups; a pair of rotary realigning drums each having a plurality of equally spaced axially parallel peripheral grooves, the spacing between the grooves of one of said realigning drums and between the grooves of said distributor drum equal to one-half the spacing between the grooves of the other realigning drum, both said realigning drums disposed at the downstream side of said conveying means and forming with said distributor drum a first transfer station at which the sticks of one group are transferred into consecutive grooves of said other realigning drum and the sticks of the other group are transferred into alternate grooves of said one realigning drum; a rotary shufiling drum having a plurality of equally spaced axially parallel peripheral grooves whose spacing equals the spacing between the grooves of said other realigning drum, said shuffling drum located at the downstream side of said distributor drum and forming with said realigning drums a second transfer station at which the grooves of said shufliing drum receive sticks from each of said realigning drums, said drums having parallel axes of rotation, the diameter of said-other realigning drum exceeding the diameter of said :one realigning drum, the pitch circles of said realigning drums respectively tangential to the pitch circles of said distributor drum and of said shufiling drum at said first and second transfer stations, and the circumferential length of said other realigning drum between said stations exceeding the circumferential length of said one realigning drum by a distance equal to the spacing between the grooves of said distributor drum; and means for driving said realigning drums at such speed that each thereof delivers sticks into consecutive grooves of said shuffling drum@ 5. In a combined distributing and realigning arrangement for cigarette sticks and the like, in combination, a pair of endless rotary realigning means having parallel axes and each provided with uniformly spaced axially parallel external grooves, the spacing between the grooves of one of said realigning means equal to one-half the spacing between the grooves of the other realigning means and the circumferential length of said other realigning means exceeding the circumferential length of'said one realigning means; means for rotatably supporting said realigning means; and means for driving said realigning means in the same direction and at equal speeds, the difference between the circumferential lengths of said realigning means being such that a groove of said one realigning means which, in a first angular position of said realigning means, trails a selected groove of said other realigning means by one half the distance between the grooves of said other realigning means, is axially aligned with said selected groove in a spaced second angular position of said realigning means.

6. A combination as set forth in claim 5, further comprising a rotary distributor drum for delivering cigarette sticks into consecutive grooves of said other realigning means and into alternate grooves of said one realigning means, said realigning means substantially tangential to the pitch circle of said drum and each groove of said other realigning means axially aligned with a'groove of said one realigning means when in a position to receive a stick from said distributor drum. q I

7. In a combined distributing and realigning arrangement for cigarette sticks and the like, in combination,

TI l

a rotary distributor drum having a plurality of equally spaced axially parallel peripheral grooves; means for conveying cigarette sticks into consecutive grooves of said drum; first and second stop means provided on said drum for arresting the sticks received in alternate grooves in spaced axial positions so that the sticks form two axially spaced circumferentially arranged groups in the grooves of said drum; a pair of movable endless realigning means having axially parallel peripheral grooves, said realigning means of different circumferential lengths and having portions'tangential to the pitch circle of said drum; and means for supporting and driving said realigning means in such a manner that the grooves of one of said realigning means receive consecutive sticks of one of said groups, that the grooves of the other realigning means receive consecutive sticks of the other group, and that each stickcontaining groove of one of said realigning means is aligned with a stick-containing groove of the other realigning means at a point spaced from the located at the downstream side of said drum.

8. A combination as set forth in claim 7, wherein at least one of said stop means is adjustable in the axial direction of said distributor drum.

9. A combination as setforth in claim 7, wherein said distributordrum has an even number of grooves, wherein each'of said realigning means has an odd number of grooves, wherein the spacing between the grooves of one .of said realigning means and between the, grooves of said distributor drum equals one-half the spacingbetwcen the grooves of the other realigning means, and wherein said distributor drum transfers consecutive sticks of one of said groups into alternate grooves of said one realigning means.

l0. A method of delivering cigarette sticks or the like from a source of sticks into axially parallel peripheral separate paths; in a direction substantially perpendicular to said predetermined direction so that the stciks of one group are staggered'with respect to the sticks of the other group; advancing bo h groups of sticks through different distances so that each stick of one group becomes aligned with and forms a pair with a stick of the other group;

and transferring the pairs of sticks into consecutive grooves of the stick receiving drum. n

11. 'A' method of delivering cigarette sticks or the like from a source of sticks into axially parallel peripheral grooves of a rotary stick receiving drum, comprising the steps of conveying the sticks fromithe source in a predetermined direction so that the sticks are axially aligned with each other; thereupondistributing alternate sticks in two spaced groups and advancing the spaced groups of sticks in two separate paths in a direction substantially perpendicular to said predetermined direction so that the sticks ot one group are staggered with respect to the sticks of the other group; advancing both groups -of sticks through different distances so that each stick of one group becomes aligned with and forms a pair of spaced sticks with a stick of the other group; and transferring the pairs of spaced sticks into consecutive grooves of the stick receiving drum. a

12.'A method as set forth in claim 11, further col-- prising the step of consecutively introducing a'filter into each groove of the receiving drum so that the filters are located between the spaced pairs of cigarette sticks.

13. A method of delivering elongated stick shaped articles from a source of articles into equally spaced peripheral holding means 'of a rotary article-receiving member,

, comprising the steps of conveying the articles from the sourceina predetermined-direction so that the articles are axially aligned with each other; thereupon distributing alternate articles into two groups andadvancing the two groups or" articles in two separate paths in a direction substantially perpendicular to said predetermined direction so that the articles of one group are staggered with respect to articles of the other group; advancing both groups of articles through different distances so that each article of one group becomes aligned with and forms a pair of articles with an article of the other group; and transferring the pairs of articles into consecutive holding means of the article-receiving member.

14. in a combined distributing and realigning arrangement for elongated stick shaped articles, in combination, a pair of endless rot ry realigning means having parallel axes and each comprising a plurality of uniformly spaced holding means, the spacing between the holding means of one of said reali ning means equal to one-half the spacing between the holding means of the other realigning means and the circumferential length of said other realigning mea s exceeding the circumferential length of said one L 5; means for rotatably supporting said realigning means; and means for driving said realigning means in the sarle direction and at equal speeds, the differcnce between the circumferential lengths of said realigning means being such that a holding means of said one rea gning means which, in a first angular position of said real; ing means trails a selected holding means of said other realigning means by one half the distance between the holding means of said other realigning means, is axially aligned with said selected holding means in a spaced second angular position of said realigning means.

15. in a combined distributing and realigning arrangement for elongated stick shaped articles, in combination, a rotary distributor means having a plurality of equally spaced peripheral holding means; means for conveying'the articles into consecutive holding means of said distributor means; first and second stop means provided on said distributor means for arresting the articles received in alternate holding means in spaced axial positions so that the articles form two axially staggered circumferentially arranged groups in the holding means of said distributor mezms; a pair of movable endless reali ning means having peripheral holding means, said realigning means of different circumferential lengths and having portions tan gential to the pitch circle of said distributor means; and means for driving and supporting said realigning means in such a way that the holding means of one of said realigning means may receive consecutive articles of one of said groups, that the holding means of the other realigning means may receive consecutive articles of the other group, and that each article-containing holding means of one of said realigning means is aligned with an article-containing holding means of the other realigning means at a point spaced from and located at the downstream side of said distributor means.

16. A combined distributing and realigning arrangenient for stick shaped articles forming part of tobaccocontaining products, comprising movable distributor means having a plurality of equally spaced article holding means; means for consecutively conveying the articles into said holding means so that the articles are arranged in at least two axially staggered groups; at least two movable realigning means, one for each group of articles, each of said realigning means having a plurality of equally spaced article-holding means, the spacing between the holding means of one of said realigning means and of said distributor means equal to one-half the spacing between the holding means of the outer realigning means, both said realigning means disposed at the downstream side of said conveying means and forming with said distributor means a first transfer station at which the articles of one of said groups are transferred into consecutive holding means of said other realigning means and the articles of the other group are transferred into alternate holding means of said one realigning means; and movable article receiving means having a plurality of equally spaced holding means whose spacing equals the spacing between the holding means of said other realigning means, said article receiving means 13 located at the downstream side of said distributor means and forming with said realigning means a second transfer station at which the holding means of said article receiving means receive articles from each of said realigning means.

17. An arrangement as set forth in claim 16, wherein said groups of articles are at least slightly spaced from each other and further comprising means for delivering substantially stick shaped articles of a second type between each pair of first mentioned articles in the consecutive holding means of said article receiving means.

18. An arrangement as set forth in claim 17, wherein said first mentioned articles are tobacco-containing sticks and wherein the articles of said second type are filters.

19. An arrangement as set forth in claim 17, wherein said holding means are peripheral grooves provided in said 141 distributor means, in said realigning means and in said article receiving means.

20. A method as set forth in claim 13, wherein said separate paths have diverging first portions which are more distant from said article-receiving member and converging second portions which are nearer to said articlereceiving member.

References tilted in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,256,598 Ruau Sept. 23, 1941 2,882,970 Schur Apr. 21, 1959 2,902,140 Pollrnann Sept. 1, 1959 2,944,688 Jeremiah July 12, 1960 2,992,749 Spillios July 18, 1961 

1. A COMBINED DISTRIBUTING AND RELIGNING ARRANGEMENT FOR CIGARETTE STICKS AND THE LIKE, COMPRISING MOVABLE DISTRIBUTOR MEANS HAVING A PLURALITY OF EQUALLY SPACED PARALLEL GROOVES; MEANS FOR CONSECUTIVELY CONVEYING CIGARETTE STICKS INTO SAID GROOVES; STOP MEANS PROVIDED ON SAID DISTRIBUTOR MEANS FOR ARRESTING THE STICKS CONVEYED INTO ALTERNATE GROOVES IN TWO AXIALLY SPACED GROUPS; A PAIR OF MOVABLE REALIGNING MEANS EACH HAVING A PLURALITY OF EQUALLY SPACED PARALLEL GROOVES, THE SPACING BETWEEN THE GROOVES OF ONE OF SAID REALIGNING MEANS AND BETWEEN THE GROOVES OF SAID DISTRIBUTOR MEANS EQUAL TO ONE-HALF THE SPACING BETWEEN THE GROOVES OF THE OTHER REALIGNING MEANS, BOTH SAID REALINGING MEANS DISOSED AT THE DOWNSTREAM SIDE OF MEANS A FIRST TRANSFER STATION AT WHICH THE STICKS OF ONE GROUP ARE TRANSFERRED INTO CONSECUTIVE GROOVES OF SAID GROUP ARE TRANSFERRED INTO CONSECUTIVE GROOVES OF SAID OTHER REALINGING MEANS AND THE STICKS OF THE OTHER GROUPS ARE TRANSFERRED INTO ALTERNATE GROOVES OF SAID ONE REALINGING MEANS; AND MOVABLE STICK RECEIVING MEANS HAVING A PLURALITY OF PARALLEL GROOVES WHOSE SPACING EQUALS THE SPACING BETWEEN THE GROOVES OF SAID OTHER REALINGING MEANS, SAID STICK RECEIVING MEANS LOCATED AT THE DOWNSTREAM SIDE OF SAID DISTRIBUTOR MEANS AND FORMING WITH SAID REALINGING MEANS A SECOND TRANSFER STATION AT WHICH THE GROOVES OF SAID STICK RECEIVING MEANS RECEIVE STICKS FROM EACH OF SAID REALIGNING MEANS. 